Lauren Poe: Empowering our future, confronting our past

Friday

Gainesville is at a crossroads. We live in a beautiful city, with a thriving health care and education-based economy, world-class parks, low unemployment and an evolving entrepreneurial ecosystem.

We also have a chasm between our most privileged and economically comfortable residents and those struggling to make the next rent. The leadership and policy direction we choose for the next 3 1/2 years will determine where we emerge as a city and as a community.

These problems aren’t unique to Gainesville, but they’re problems we must deal with nonetheless, because we are a city that refuses to shy away from our challenges.

Over the past decade, we have invested over $100 million in east Gainesville. As a result, we are finally seeing some of the first private development in east Gainesville in a generation. Since becoming mayor, our city has welcomed over 600 new businesses and over 5,000 new jobs in just the past three years.

But equality is bigger than a paycheck, it’s about ensuring the great quality of life we have in Gainesville is shared by all.

As the son of two music teachers, I was raised to value investing in the arts. This year, when the Legislature cut arts funding to almost $0, we stepped in, doubling our commitment to arts and culture. This means families, no matter their income, can still enjoy the arts and culture that Gainesville values so much.

As a public school teacher, helping children is close to my heart, and why I’m so proud of the work we’ve done in enhancing after-school care for low-income people. We’re working to build a city we can pass on to our children by investing in better parks, more high quality recreational and cultural opportunities, and a cleaner environment.

Gainesville is known for our pristine environment, and I’ve worked to ensure it remains that way for future generations. I've voted to protect thousands of acres of environmentally sensitive land since coming on the commission. Your city is also committing to protecting it for the future, by committing to a zero waste policy and 100 percent renewable energy by 2045.

Yet our racial and economic disparity gaps persist. I ran for mayor three years ago for one reason: reducing the equity gaps that are a result of generational racial and economic discrimination. I never thought this challenge would be easy, but I remain hopeful that we are making progress and we will, as a community, eliminate the inequities that have plagued our city for too long. As President Barack Obama said, “Change is never easy, but always possible.”

Along with our neighborhoods and community, I will continue to develop a comprehensive affordable housing plan to assist the more than 4,000 people waiting for a safe and attainable place to live. I will continue to move toward a living wage for all city workers, as well as those with which the city does business. I will continue to support investing in environmental protection, arts, culture, transportation and parks, because any one of us succeeds only if we all succeed together.

It’s my commitment to these principles that has earned me the support of the Sierra Club, Equality Florida Action PAC, the International Association of Firefighters, the University of Florida College Democrats and more.

I humbly ask for your vote on March 19. These challenges are bigger than any mayor or government can solve and need you to help. Come out and share your ideas, your talents and your resources. Only together can we solve the defining issues of our time.

Lauren Poe is running for reelection as Gainesville mayor.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.